plainclothesman

or plain·clothes man

[ pleyn-klohz-muhn, -man, -klohthz- ]

noun

, plural plain·clothes·men [pleyn, -, klohz, -m, uh, n, -men, -, klohthz, -].

1. a police officer, especially a detective, who wears ordinary civilian clothes while on duty.

Word History and Origins

Origin of plainclothesman¹

First recorded in 1925–30; plain clothes + man

Example Sentences

He too stood in lengthy conference with the two plainclothesmen, and then with Leon, and finally with Leon and Mrs. Tallis.

From Literature

The plainclothesman in front of her flashed a badge, showed a search warrant, and brusquely asked Mary for permission to enter.

From Literature

Anyone could see Garner talking to a clutch of uniformed and plainclothesmen in front of a store on Bay Street, in Staten Island, on July 17th.

From The New Yorker

A video filmed by TVB, a usually pro-government television station, showed a bearded man in a black T-shirt being led away by plainclothesman, his hands behind him.

From New York Times

“The only people we get in here at night anymore is plainclothesmen,” Darlene said.

From Literature